• Investing  in early childhood  makes solid economic sense.  A study by the Federal Reserve Bank reports that every $1 we spend on quality early learning education pays returns of $7-$17.   
  • 85% of the human brain is developed by age 5. 
  • 20% of today’s workers are functionally illiterate.  Early childhood development programs prepare our children to become adults who are literate, employable, and productive citizens. 
  • Virginia spends approximately $90 million annually on children who repeat grades K-3.
  • 1 in 4 children in the Shenandoah Valley enter school not ready to learn.

Organization of the Smart Beginnings Shenandoah Valley Coalition

Smart Beginnings Shenandoah Valley is a regional coalition representing the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro as well as the counties of Augusta, Page, Rockingham, and Shenandoah.  The organization structure is designed to focus attention both regionally, across this portion of the Shenandoah Valley, as well as locally in each of the seven localities.  To accomplish this, a multi-tier structure was developed (see image below).

Org Chart

Descriptions of Each Organizational Level:
Leadership Council is a regional entity comprised of high level decision makers and community leaders representing the localities in the coalition.  These strong community leaders hold periodic meetings to review plans and outcomes of the Steering Committee and Locality Teams.  It is their role to influence the work of the coalition and achieve long-term sustainability through strategic planning, consultation, guidance and leveraging of resources.

Steering Committee is regional working group.  It is comprised of two representatives from each locality, Locality Team Chairpersons, Action Team representatives, the fiscal agent, coalition director, and coalition coordinator.  This committee is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the current strategic plan, including measuring progress toward the goals, planning quarterly meetings of the full, planning/implementing the annual Early Childhood Leadership Summit, and conducting an assessment of progress for revisions to the strategic plan at least every five years.

Action Teams are responsible for identifying priorities for each of the five focus area of the strategic plan including Early Care and Education, Early Childhood Health, Parent Education and Support, Governance/Advocacy, and Public Awareness.  Membership on these teams is fluid.  Once these priorities are identified, teams develop and carry out plans addressing the priorities.  Progress is reported throughout the year to the Steering Committee by action team representatives.  

Locality Teams are established in each locality to plan and promote early childhood initiatives within each locality as they relate to Smart Beginnings Shenandoah Valley’s mission, vision, and Strategic Plan.